Bottom Paint

[nipper]

My 1991 V cuddy has red bottom paint on it (ablative). However, I trailer the boat, and I do not need bottom paint. I like the color of the red bottom. I cannot go back to the original bottom because previous owner (my dad) had the gelcoat scuffed before putting on the original bottom paint.

Is there anything I can use on the bottom which does not have anti-fouling properties, will stay on, and will give me a smooth bottom without red stuff rubbing on me every time I brush up against the boat?

[LESTERUS]

Use Aveeno Cream Or Baby Powder, That'll Give You A "smooth Bottom" !!!

Lesterus

[garagenc]

Originally Posted by nipper

My 1991 V cuddy has red bottom paint on it (ablative). However, I trailer the boat, and I do not need bottom paint. I like the color of the red bottom. I cannot go back to the original bottom because previous owner (my dad) had the gelcoat scuffed before putting on the original bottom paint.

Is there anything I can use on the bottom which does not have anti-fouling properties, will stay on, and will give me a smooth bottom without red stuff rubbing on me every time I brush up against the boat?

Yea I talked to the pro's at yacht paint and they reccommend if you trailer your boat that you use car paint. I used it on the transom of mine after I repaired some holes and was having a problem with spraying gelcoat. I put it on and man does it work great for cleaning. Mine's been on since april and it is still there. It works great when you clean most of the time you can rinse off everything or easily wipe off, And the best part is the car guys can match the paint perfect.
garage

[mushman]

Couldn't you remove the paint and sand it smooth?, just curious.

[spareparts]

Short answer...Awlgrip
although any good catalized polyurathane would work, if applied correctly.

i used to work for a company that built street sweepers, they painted the sweepers with an anti graffitti paint, it was so slick, we had a problem keeping stickers on the trucks. It had soemthing in it that would not allow spray apint to stick to it. the paint was some kind of special Imron, I've allways thought it would make a good alternative for bottom paint, figured if antyhing grew on it, it would side right off when you ran the boat

[cfelton]

My neighbor, who ownes Willey's body shop across from me color matched my transom and clearcoated over it with Emron clear. Its really hard and is holding up great. I need ta paint the bottom of my V too, its got about 3 layers of different colored paint over the gelcoat. Let us know what ya use. I'd like ta give it a try too!Dont mean ta hijack, but any body know how much paint it would take for the bottom?

[Blue_Runner]

Short answer...Awlgrip

Mine has awlgrip on the entire outter hull and it is super easy to clean, never needs to be waxed and shines like the day it was put on.

[macojoe]

I know a guy that sanded his and cleaned with L Thinner, and painted with Rustolem and it held up great!!

[nipper]

Thanks for the advice. Do you guys think I will need to get every bit of the anti-fouling off before painting it or could I just sand it and clean it until it is smooth and not bleeding anymore?

[nipper]

cfelton, I re-did my bottom paint last summer, did 2 heavy coats, and used about 2/3 of a gallon. I am not sure how that would translate with using awlgrip or auto paint.